Determinants of milk composition and somatic cell count in buffaloes from the Terai belt of Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2025.1002024Keywords:
Electric conductivity, Lactation, Milk composition, Parity, Somatic cell countAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and various milk quality parameters of buffaloes in the Chitwan district of Nepal during the year 2024. A total of 122 buffalo-owned households were selected using a cross-sectional survey design. Results indicated that average daily milk yield was highest during the first lactation (4.74 kg/day), followed by the second (4.54 kg/day), and third lactation (3.21 kg/day). Conversely, milk fat content showed a decreasing trend across successive lactations. Lactation stage significantly (p<0.05) influenced the milk’s fat, solid-not-fat (SNF), protein, and lactose content. While parity exhibited a marginal correlation with lactose concentration, it did not significantly affect milk yield, fat, SNF, or protein content. A notable finding was that high-yielding buffaloes had significantly (p<0.01) lower fat content than low-yielding counterparts. In contrast, SNF, protein, and lactose percentages were significantly (p<0.01) higher in high-yielding groups compared to low and medium-yielding ones, indicating a substantial impact of production level on milk composition. No statistically significant (p>0.05) differences were observed in SCC and electrical conductivity (EC) across varying levels of milk production, parity, or lactation stages. These findings suggested that SCC and EC are not strongly influenced by these factors under current management conditions. Key challenges identified in the study area included poor hygiene of feeding and milking equipment, unbalanced feeding practices, inadequate waste management, limited infrastructure for milk marketing, and slow adoption of modern dairy technologies.
Downloads
References
Zhao, Y., Zhao, H., Li, L., Tan, J., Wang, Y., Liu, M., & Jiang, L. (2023). Multi-omics analysis reveals that the metabolite profile of raw milk is associated with dairy cows’ health status. Food Chemistry, 428, 136813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.136813
Araújo de Melo, B., de Gusmão Couto, A., de Lima Silva, F., Hongyu, K., Teodózio de Araújo, F. C., Mesquita da Silva, S. G., Santos Rios, R. R., Santos, M. T. d., & Fraga, A. B. (2020). Multivariate analysis of body morphometric traits in conjunction with performance of reproduction and milk traits in crossbred progeny of Murrah× Jafarabadi buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in North-Eastern Brazil. PLoS One, 15(4), e0231407. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231407
Balabanova, T. B., & Ivanova, M. G. (2021). Effect of stage of lactation on somatic cell count in sheep milk of Pleven Blackhead breed. Food Science and Applied Biotechnology, 4(1), 14-21. https://doi.org/10.30721/fsab2021.v4.i1.124
Baloch, H., Rind, R., Kalhoro, D. H., Abro, S. H., Kolachi, H. A., Kakar, S., Ibrahim, M., Ahned, F., Ali, H., & Mahesar, M. (2023). Influence of bacterial species on physical characteristics and somatic cell counts in clinical and subclinical mastitis milk of Kundhi buffaloes. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 1-9. https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20221111051117
Bhattarai, N. (2020). Seasonal variation in milk yield, fat and SNF content of Murrah crossbred buffalo in mid-western terai region of Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Forestry University, 279-284. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/jafu/article/view/47099/35287
Chandrakar, C., Kumar, P., Shakya, S., Jaiswal, S. K., Monika, U. W., & Sahu, S. (2018). Physiochemical characteristics of buffalo milk samples available in four districts of Chhattisgarh, India. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 7(2), 1992-1999. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.702.238
Chisowa, D. M. (2023). Effect of parity on milk yield in lactating dairy cows. Magna Scientia Advanced Biology and Pharmacy, 8(2), 6-12. https://doi.org/10.30574/msabp.2023.8.2.0081
Costa, A., Neglia, G., Campanile, G., & De Marchi, M. (2020). Milk somatic cell count and its relationship with milk yield and quality traits in Italian water buffaloes. Journal of Dairy Science, 103(6), 5485-5494. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-18009
Emakpor, O. L., Edo, G. I., Jikah, A. N., Ikpekoro, V. O., Agbo, J. J., Ainyanbhor, I. E., Essaghah, A. E. A., Ekokotu, H. A., Oghroro, E. E. A., & Akpoghelie, P. O. (2024). Buffalo milk: an essential natural adjuvant. Discover Food, 4(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-024-00114-7
Kaskous, S., Farschtschi, S., & Pfaffl, M. W. (2022). Physiological aspects of milk somatic cell count in small ruminants—A review. Dairy, 4(1), 26-42. https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy4010002
Kuralkar, P., & Kuralkar, S. (2022). Effect of season and stage of lactation on milk components in Purnathadi buffaloes. Buffalo Bulletin, 41(3), 511-519. https://doi.org/10.56825/bufbu.2022.4133165
Lutsenko, M., Halai, O., Legkoduh, V., Lastovska, I., Borshch, O., & Nadtochii, V. (2021). Milk production process, quality and technological properties of milk for the use of various types of milking machines. Acta Scientiarum, 43, e51336. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v43i1.51336
MoALD. (2021/22). Statistical information on Nepalese Agriculture (2078/79:2021/22). https://giwmscdnone.gov.np/media/app/public/285/posts/1715754883_66.pdf
MoALD. (2023). Statistical information on Nepalese Agriculture (2079/80:2022/23). https://giwmscdnone.gov.np/media/pdf_upload/MOALD-Statical-Book-Magre-2081-Final_wgfs8ph.pdf
Paneru, U., Dhungana, K. P., Kanu, S., & Sharma, P. (2021). Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Indigenous Buffalo. Journal of Nepal Agricultural Research Council, 7, 83-91. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnarc.v7i1.36925
Pegolo, S., Giannuzzi, D., Bisutti, V., Tessari, R., Gelain, M., Gallo, L., Schiavon, S., Tagliapietra, F., Trevisi, E., & Marsan, P. A. (2021). Associations between differential somatic cell count and milk yield, quality, and technological characteristics in Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 104(4), 4822-4836. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-19084
Rienesl, L., Marginter, M., Stückler, P., Köck, A., Egger-Danner, C., & Sölkner, J. (2022). Use of differential somatic cell count, somatic cell score, and milk mid-infrared spectral analysis for monitoring mastitis in dairy cows during routine milk recording. Livestock Science, 264, 105050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2022.105050
Shazinosh, M. U. F., Namood, S., Marri, N. U., Khan, Z., Bismillah, A. U., & Kabir, A. (2024). Studies on concentration of some milk metabolic enzymes at different parities, stage of lactation and their correlation with composition and yield of milk in Red Sindhi Cows. Journal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences, 11(4), 175-188. https://doi.org/10.53555/sfs.v11i4.2902
Sumon, S. M. R., Parvin, M. S., Ehsan, M. A., & Islam, M. T. (2020). Relationship between somatic cell counts and subclinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows. Veterinary World, 13(8), 1709. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.1709-1713
Tanmaie, K., Rao, K. A., Teja, A., Ravi, K., Reddy, C. S. A., Sivani, K., & Amarnath, M. (2022). Effect of stage of lactation on hematological and serum biochemical profile in Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). The Pharma Innovation Journal, 11(12), 668-674. https://www.thepharmajournal.com/archives/2022/vol11issue12S/PartI/S-11-11-333-751.pdf
Viana, C. F., Lopes, A. C., Conrrado, R. S., Resende, F. A., Andrade, E. H., Penna, C. F., de Souza, M. R., Bastianetto, E., & Fonseca, L. M. (2025). Buffalo milk quality: A study of seasonal influence on composition and somatic cell count. Journal of Dairy Science, 108(3), 2215-2226. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-25534
Zhao, Y., Zhao, H., Li, L., Tan, J., Wang, Y., Liu, M., & Jiang, L. (2023). Multi-omics analysis reveals that the metabolite profile of raw milk is associated with dairy cows’ health status. Food Chemistry, 428, 136813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.136813
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Agriculture and Environmental Science Academy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
